The American Concrete Institute announces the availability of two primary documents for concrete industry professionals: ACI 301-16 Specifications for Structural Concrete, and the ACI Field Reference Manual. The former is a reference specification an architect or engineer can apply to any job involving structural concrete by citing it in the project specifications. Mandatory and optional requirements checklists assist design and engineering professionals in supplementing the provisions of this specification as required or needed by designating or specifying individual project requirements.
The first five ACI 301-16 sections cover general construction requirements for cast-in-place structural concrete and slabs-on-ground. These sections cover materials and proportioning of concrete; reinforcement and prestressing steel; production, placing, finishing, and curing of concrete; formwork performance criteria and construction; treatment of joints; embedded items; repair of surface defects; and finishing of formed and unformed surfaces. Provisions governing testing, evaluation, and acceptance of concrete as well as acceptance of the structures are included. The remaining sections are devoted to architectural concrete, lightweight concrete mass concrete, post-tensioned concrete, shrinkage-compensating concrete, industrial floor slabs, tilt-up construction, precast structural concrete, and precast architectural concrete.
“There are several major updates to the 2016 document from the previous version published in 2010, including more contractor-friendly language, removal of default requirements for slump, and provisions on alkali silica reactivity,” says ACI Committee 301, Specifications for Structural Concrete Chair Michelle Wilson. “The specifications have been made clearer for the user by removing wording that is confusing or subject to interpretation.” ACI 301-16 complements the completely reorganized ACI 318-14 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete, she adds, as the specifications are totally inclusive of virtually all forms of structural concrete used in building construction.
The ACI Field Reference Manual is a compilation of documents including ACI 301-16 and additional ACI documents on measuring, mixing, transporting, and placing concrete; concrete pumping methods; hot- and cold-weather concreting; consolidation; and concrete formwork. ACI 301-16 requires that contractors keep a copy of the ACI Field Reference Manual in the field office of any project where ACI 301 is specified. ACI 301-16 is also included in the new 2016 edition of the Concrete Construction Special Inspector reference package. The American Concrete Institute also has ACI 301-16 online learning opportunities: ACI 301-16 Specifications for Structural Concrete (Parts 1, 2 & 3). — ACI Bookstore, 248/848-3700; www.concrete.org